Cultivator tooth releasing means



y 1950 F. T. COURT 2,506,443

CULTIVATOR TOOTH RELEASING MEANS Filed Jan. 8, 1945 FIG. I

Ill lllllllll ll IIHIIII WITNESS (56 m Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CULTIVATOR TOOTH RELEASING MEANS Frank T. Court, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 8, 1945, Serial No. 571,800

7 Claims.

spring mountin for cultivator shovels and other tools. More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a combined shank and spring mounting for cultivator shovels and, additionally, a new and improved means for clamping the shank to a tool beam or other support.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a cultivator shovel mounting of the spring trip type in which the spring parts are entirely enclosed and protected from dust, dirt and the like and in which adjustments of the cultivator tool may be made without affecting the spring action of the mounting. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of combined cultivator shank and spring mounting which is materially lighter in weight, and more inexpensive to manufacture, than the spring trip devices now in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a cultivator shovel mounting constructed according ure 1, showing the pivoted shovel-receiving foot piece or sleeve in a position of adjustment different than that shown in Figure 1'.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, showing the action of the spring device when the shovel encounters some obstruction and is tripped.

Figure 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5--5 of Figure 1, showing the preferred means for clamping the shank to a tool beam.

Figure 6 is a top view, showing the upper end of the shank and shank clamping means.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the tool bar of a cultivator rig is indicated by the reference numeral I and, as best shown in Figure 5, has been illustrated as a rectangular bar. The latter supports one or more tools in the form of shovels each of which is mounted on a shank clamped to the tool bar I. According to the principles of the present invention, I provide a hollow shank bar 5, preferably in the form of a tubular member, such as a short section of 2 i pipe, open at both ends and having a bracket 6' secured, as by welding, to the lower portion of the shank 5. The bracket 6 has a portion 1 extending in depending relation below the lower end of the shank 5, this end being formed arcu-- ately, as parts of a cylindrical surface. The lower depending portion 1 of the bracket 6 is apertured, as at 8, and receives a hardened wear resisting bushing 9 having an axial length'slightly greater than the thickness of the bracket, as r is best illustrated in Figure 2.

Pivotally mounted on the bracket 6 is a toolreceiving sleeve or foot piece indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral II. This member preferably is in the form of a casting having a curved front surface I2 and an upper bifurcated section I3. The latter section forms a vertical slot I4 the opposite side walls of which are extended rearwardly to form a pair of lugs or extensions I6 and I! (Figure 2). The opposite side Walls I8 and I9 of the upper slotted portion I3 of the foot piece I2 are formed arcuately so as to fit against the arcuate surface ZI at the lower end of the tubular shank 5. These 00- acting surfaces are arcuate about a center which is defined by a pair of apertures 22 and 23 formed in the side walls I8 and It and in which a pin 25 is disposed, being held therein preferably by a press fit. A shovel 2B of more or less conventional construction is fastened in place on the foot piece II against the arcuate front face I2 thereof by a bolt 28 which passes through an opening 29 in the foot piece I I.

A tension spring 3I is disposed within a tubular shank 5 and at its upper end receives a, socket 32 having exterior grooves formed to receive the coils at the upper end of the spring and having a capped opening to receive an adjusting bolt 34, the head 35 of which bears against the upperend of a cap 36 seated, as best shown in Figure l, on the upper end of the shank 5. The lower end of the spring 3I is formed with a hook 38 which receives a link 39. A second link 4| is connected at its upper end with the link 39 and at its lower end receives the pin 25. By tightening the adjusting bolt 34, it will be seen, particularly from Figure 1, that the foot piece II may be held in the socket 2| with the desired force by properly adjusting the bolt 34.

The bushing 9 is apertured to receive a clamp-- ing bolt 46 which serves as a pivot for pivotally connecting the foot piece I I to the lower end on the shank bracket 6. As best shown in Figure 2, the bolt 46 passes through a pair of corrugated washers or blocks 4'! and 48, the corrugations 'of which fit against companion corrugations 5| formed on the laterally outer sides of the foot piece lugs Hi. The latter are provided with arcuate slots 53 dimensioned to receive the bolt 46 and the slots 53 are arcuate about the pin 25 as a center. The inside surfaces of the lugs I6 and I! are flat and, as best shown in Figure 2, fit against the ends of the hardened wear resisting bushing Figure 2 shows the bolt 46 pulled up tight;

with the corrugated washers ii and 48 interengaged with the corrugations 5! on the foot piece lugs l6 and H. In both Figuresl andz, the bolt 6 is in a central position of adjustment as regards the ends of the slots 5;:- desired to have the shovel 26 adjusted: to a some-- what steeper angle, the bolt 461s loosened sufil-eciently to permit the disengagement of the corrugated washers 4! and 48 from the corrugations 5| on the lugs I6 and ll}. The foot piece Il may then, be. swung one: direction or the other about. h defined. by thev 25,. the arcuate. slots 53. accommodating the swingin or the toot piece it relative to the bolt. which, of course... re.-- wins in, its position with the shank bracket. 6... Figure 3 shows the position 05 the foot piece H for somewhat decreased. suck, in which position the upper ends oi the slots as receive a holt 8 Then by engaging the corrugated washers A? and 4; with the sides of the lugs i6, and ii and then tightening the bolt 58, the foot piece ii is held in its. new position of adjustment. It is to be noted that in making this adjustment no change made as regards the position of the pin 25. and foot piece pivot 55 relative to the shank or. the. spring 3|. If the shovel should encounter an 0bstruction, such as a stone, stump or the. like, in, operation, the spring resistance is overcome and th sho el. a d ot p ece a: swi g kward y about the bolt it; as a pivot. In doingso the resulting downward movement of the pin 25 extends the spring 3%. As best shown in Figure 1, the. relation of the two pivots 25 and is with respectto the axis of, the spring 3% issuch that when the foot piece l i swings rearwardly the effective lever arm of the spring 31 is reduced, as

overcome, the resistance to rear-ward movement of the shovel under such conditions is reduced proportionately to the reduction in the efieetive length of the lever arm or moment arm of the spring 3i. There is, of course, sufficient force availableto return the shovel to its operating position (Figurel) afterthe obstruction has been cleared;

Newand improved clampi g: means, particular lycadapted to. cooperate with the tubular 5, is shown in Figures 1, 5 6. Referring now to these figures, the tool :bar 1 is apertnred, as at 8.1% to provide openings for receiving a clamping usbol t 52 The lJ-laolt encircles. the. shank 5... preferably a short distance :below the cap the diameter of which is the same less. the diameter'oi" the. shank 5 so, that. the latter may be moved upwardly and. downwardly, into opt of the U-bolt 52.. A pair of clamping blocks 63 and 5-4. are. provided, these blocks being ae rtured, as at =65 and fil, .to receive. the, less of. thou-bolt 62. Each of the blocks 53 and 4 is. lzavel-e. 1,,v as at 6.8, so as to fit snugly against the portions of the shank .5 so that a line Iii should be.

extending from each beveled section 68 to the axis of the shank 5 makes an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to a vertical transverse plane passing through said axis. Additionally, each of the clampingblocks 63 and 64 is provided with upper and lower overhanging shoulders H and 72 which are spaced apart the width of the tool oar l, as best shown in Figure 5.

The action oi? the above descsibpd clamping means is substantially as follows. When the nuts 15 on the threaded ends '16 of the U-bolt 62 are tightened, the shank 5 is pulled toward the tool bar; t and against the beveled sections 68 of the clamping blocks 63 and 64. Due to the above mentioned angular relations, which are shown bestin Figure 6;. as. the nuts are tightened there are laterally. outwardly directed components of force acting to spread apart the blocks 63 and 64. This: not only forces the openings 66 and 61 against the legs of the U-bolt but, additionally, ce th sides of the uboit again t the onennss iii in th t ol er hrou h Whi'li he less at the U-bolt 62 pass. This provides a very attachment; for the shank, a which secures. the

. par s firmly and r g dly to he. tool or The Saun ers. n. and i; which overhan the upset and low r edges of the tool bar I are thus mode ef ective. t prevent. any angu ar disp acement at the. shank as in a rearward direction. under the pressureof the soil against the shovel 26..

While I have hown and. descr bed abo e the preferred structure in. which the pr nciple of e pre nt in en o ve en ncor orated. is, to be understood tha my in ention is not to b limited to he p r lar de ails shown a d described above, but that, in; fact. widely d term; means be empioyodin. the prac ise-oi the; broade aspects of my invention,

Wh I c a m... ther a d desire. t by Lettersiatent is;

an agricultural imp ement. a tubular h nks. a bracket. fixed; thereto dooendins so: l t n with r sp to the lower and o said a k and h n n sterlin therein. a too receiving toot piece. Ilas; a slotted r ams-rah?- atemiins. sort. a pivot. membe assin through said. slot and said op ning: in: said. bracket. said 001; piece adaoted o pivot-about. said oivotmem: berg. spring means disposed Within: sa d tubu a shank. and senses. as the latter and said test piece, a d. mac s adiustably fix n the cos-ti s- 01: said oivotmeaosin the slotin sai otsise for adjusting the positioao th ieti sr new seidmsnh ,2, In. an a ricultural implement. Q 915 s o eware. havin s aperture herein,- a Wear resisting ush ng. Q10 in saustitties elation said ste n-ire and harms a length said: tooleceiv ng m mber adseisi st nda vieldablv e sting move-m mo to lenec ia tier 'earned. by s id. bracket. afloat. pi. so,

oi the n pa s o sc atica-ken means disposed within said tubular standard and connected thereto at one end, means including a pin connecting the other end of said spring with said foot piece, the latter and said standard having abutting surfaces formed generally arcuate about the axis defined by said pin, and slotted lugs carried by said foot piece for receiving said pivot member carried by the bracket, the slots in said lug being arcuate about the axis defined by said pin, and means for adjustably fixing the position of said pivot member in the slots in said lugs so as to accommodate disposin said foot piece in difierent positions relative to said standard generally about the axis defined by said pin.

5. In an agricultural implement, a t001receiving foot piece having a bifurcated portion at its upper end, the side Walls of which are apertured to receive a pivot pin and the upper portions of said side Walls being arcuate about the axis defined by said pin, said side walls being extended rearwardly to form attaching lugs, and said lugs having arcuate slots therein, said slots being arcuate about the axis defined by said pin-receiving openings in said side Walls.

6. In an agricultural implement, a tool standard having an arcuate section at one end, a bracket carried by said standard adjacent said arcuate section, a tool-receiving member having an arcuate section complementary with respect to said first mentioned arcuate section and adapted to seat in the latter arcuate section and pivot means disposed on said member substantially at the center of curvature of the arcuate section of said member, pivot means connecting the toolreceiving member with said bracket, means on said bracket and member providin for shifting said last mentioned pivot means to different positions relative to said foot piece about said center of curvature, and spring means acting between said tool standard and said first pivot means for yieldably resisting movement of said foot piece relative to said standard about the axis of said adjustable pivot means.

7. In an agricultural implement, an upright tool standard having an arcuate portion at one end thereof; a foot piece having an arcuate portion complementary to the standard arcuate portion, said portions being interfitted to provide for relative angular movement between the standard and foot piece; yieldable means interconnected between the standard and foot piece and yieldably maintaining the interfit between the two; a pair of lugs, one fixed on the standard and the other fixed on the foot piece, and projecting in side-by-side relationship in laterally spaced relation to the arcuate portions, one lug having an aperture therein and the other having a slot formed generally about the center of the arcuate portions; and a releasable pivot member passed through said slot and aperture and pivotally interconnecting the lugs, so that the foot piece may move angularly about the pivot member to separate the arcuate portions and so that the foot piece maybe adjusted angularly about the arcuate portions upon release of the pivot member.

FRANK T. COURT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 394,283 Mendenhall ec. 11, 1888 407,273 Allstatter July 16, 1889 554,892 MoFall Feb. 18, 1896 602,430 Corcoran Apr. 19, 1898 637,390 Howe et a1 NOV. 21, 1899 894,787 Waterman July 28, 1908 1,207,162 Grayson Dec. 5, 1916 1,410,084 Viar Mar, 21, 1922 2,358,531 Orendorf Sept. 19, 1944 Certificate of Correction May 2, 1950 Patent No. 2,506,443

FRANK T. COURT that error appears in the p'rinte correction as follows:

e claim reference numeral 6 read 2;

should be read with this correction therein that d of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

of July, A. D. 1950.

d specification of the above It is hereby certified numbered patent requiring Column 4, line 68, for th and that the said Letters Patent the same may conform to the recor Signed and sealed this 25th day THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Ooqmm'ssz'oner of Patents. 

